Sidewalk bridge



Feb. 4, 1930. P. J. CANNON ,7 6

SIDEWALK BRIDGE Filed Dec. 1, 1927 a Sheets-Sheet 3 Z? J Cannon v I I Feb. 4, 1930.

' P. J. CANNON SIDEWALK BRIDGE Filed Dec. 1, 1927 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Feb. 4,1930.

P. J. CANNON SIDEWALK BRIDGE Filed Dec. 1, 1927 5 Sheets-Sheet l .ZvzvenZ'o Patented Feb. 4, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT oer-"ICE PATRICK 3'. CANNON, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

, SIDEWALK BRIDGE Application filed December 1, wa'ijser ai 110,237,050.

When erecting tall buildings it isnecessary to provide a structure or bridge over the sidewalk from curb to building line to protect pedestrians from objects falling from the building during the course of construction. I After the building is completed such bridges must be, dismantled and removed.

The bridges used at present are of: wood constructionconsisting of wood posts and 9 beams nailed together and braced'and provide' a workingjfloor or deck above with .a separate waterproof ceiling or Watershed 'un-' der the deck to protect pedestrians from drippings duringv rainyweather. 2 In addition a decorated apronorparapet is provided along the front over the curb which usually extends .above the deck to enhance the appearance of" especially onlong spans over wide sidewalks since the posts must be far. apart. For this reason a derrick mustcbeusedfto erect the structure resulting in a high costof labor and material. Furthermore the hollow steel posts 0 are liable to. sudden collapse when bowed or bent due to excessive heat, shock or overload. This construction is not'fireproof since wood is used for all the superstructure as in the allwood bridge with its'attendant disadvanta'ges.

sightly in appearance, difiicult to erect and dismantle, are not rigid and they require a great deal of labor and time in erection.

Since the bridge remains until the'exterior mantled that it cannot be used over again and is a total'loss. Again the wood construction is necessarily fastened together with braces and woodrmambers to obtain rigidity and in These bridges are not fireproof, are uncase of accidental collapse of any onesection the entire bridge is in danger. I Y For the above reasons and many others the present methods of constructing sidewalk bridges are unsatisfactory, -uneconomical and present a menace to the safety of thepublic.

Therefore, it is the object of my inventIOH tO provide asidewalk bridge which is fireproof, safe and economical.

It is a further object to provide a sidewalk 6 I 1 bridgewhich can be .readily erected and dismantled. and provides a pleasing appearance, and in which a durable and fireproof water shed is providedwhich can be readily erected,

dismantled and used repeatedly while the Q metal postsand attachments are used to sup port light wooden beams and decking which has been permanently fireproofed.

A still further object is togprovide a re.- movable sidewalk structure so braced and? constructed to provide for all ordinary conditions met in the. construction of, such structures such asvarying width and slope of sidewalk, positions of posts, contour of curb mg. I e

The preferred form for my invention is shown by way ofexample inthe accompanying drawings in which Fig. l'is a perspective view of a sidewalk bridge embodying my invention;

Fig. Qis a side elevation Fig. 3 is an enlarged side elevation of a bracket; i Fig. 4* is an end elevation of the same Fig. 5 is a bottom view of the same; jFig. 6 is'an elevation of a'base; I Fig. 7 is a plan view thereof Fig. 8 is a side viewof a tie-rod; 9 Fig. 9 is a fragmentaryside view of the tie-rod fastening;

Fig. 10 is a transverse section on'the line 1O10 of Fig. 8 and Fig. 11 is a side view of a modifiedform of tie rod assembly.- I J Thepreferred embodiment of my invention is illustrated in the accompanying'drawiugs and consists essentially of structural elements, in some cases of conventional or stock and building lines as well asheight of deck- 7 material and in other instances of specially designed members.

I have shown, by way of example, a sidewalk or equivalent runway 11, having a curb edge 12. Appropriate sills 13, 13 are laid on the sidewalk in spaced positions parallel to the curb 12. These sills form supports for the bases 14 of the columns, pillars or posts.

Where the posts are made from uniform lengths of conventional metal I-beams, the bases take the form indicated in Figs. 6 and 7. A bottom flange 15 is adapted to rest'on the sills 13 and a central portion 16 projects upwardly, being of a hollow cross-section to receive the I-beam. Opposite bracing webs 17, 17 run down from the central portion 16 to the flange 15 while two other opposite webs 18, 18 extend outwardly in a common vertical plane from the central portion-and flange. The latter webs are apertured as at 19, to receive the connecting bolts of tie-rods as will later be described.

The posts 20 in the form of I-beams may be of any suitable length and are generally made interchangeable and removably fitted to the bases 14. At their upper ends are mounted caps 21 preferablyof special form as shown in Figs. 3, 4 and 5. These caps have the multiple functions of supporting the superstructure, connecting with the tie-rods or braces and supporting a watershed over the passageway.

As illustrated, these capsare of metal castingswith appropriate brackets for the several cooperatingelements. The central part consists of a lower sleeve 22 and an upper horizontal plate 23 connected by sloping sides 24. The central parts are recessed vertically at 25 to receive the upper end of the I-beam 20. The recess 25 in the upper plate has an inwardly extending edge 26 at the top against which the I-beam abuts thus supporting the casting on the upper end of the post 20. The walls 27 27 of the lower part 22 are narrowed at their centers to fit snugly against the central web of the post 20 and are also drilled at 28 so that a bolt may be passed through the walls 27, 27 and the intervening web of post 20. In like manner the horizontal plate 23 where it is centrally recessed, has spaced walls 29 apertured' at 30 to be bolted to the web of the post. Strengthening flanges 31, 31 extend inwardly of the sides 24, 24 and plate 23, from the lower portion 22 to the upper depending member of the plate in which the end of the post is received.

The lower sleeve 22 has opposite side walls 32, 32 with outwardly extending central webs 33, 33 terminating in vertical spaced cheeks 34, 34. These cheeks form inner parts of stirrups 35, 35 of appropriate proportions The outer,

to receive the frame members 36. parts of the stirrups are upstanding walls 37, 37.

The web 33 has a depending lug 38 drilled as at 39 to receive a bolt connecting it with the end of a tie-rod.

The side walls 32, 32 are extended in opposite directions to provide parallel spaced flanges 40, 40. Suitable holes 41, 41 run through these fl. nges to receive the bolts used in assembling the spacing members.

The upper horizontal plate 23 extends horizontally of the cap to form a platform 42, which is suitable to support a truss-member 43. The side walls 44, 44 of the plate 23 extend upward from the platform 42 in parallel relation on each side of the truss 43. The angles between 44 and 42 have small web connections 45, 45 serving to brace the side walls 44, 44 and also to engage the truss member firmly and preventits longitudinal movement of the platform except when lifted from the latter. i

The open ends of the plate 23 form lips 46, 46 having on their lower surfaces a slight re cess as shown on Fig. 3 whereby clamping bars 47 may be extended and held. These bars are U-shaped and reach upward with their free ends held in cross-bars 48 by means of nuts 49. '1 r Means are provided to conneot the several posts together and these means are preferably in the form of tie-rods such asiindicated particularly in Figs. 1, 2, 8, 9 and 10. Since the spacing between the posts is subject to variation dependent on the dimensions of the passageway covered, it is necessary to allow for ready adjustment of the tie-rods.

This has been done by making them of interconnected parts, adj ustably fastened together. As illustrated, the horizontal tie-rods, 50, 50 are each of hollow or solid rod formation having one plain end 51 and one end in the form of an eye 52. These rods 50,50 are each connected by bolts through their ends 52 to the desired part of the caps 21. This may be at thelug 39 or one of the holes 41, 41 in the flanges 40. The opposite tie-rod may be similarly connected to another cap 21 or a base 14 or a metal strap 53 (Fig. 1).

The overlapping'free ends of the rods are brought into parallel spaced positions as shown in Figs. 8, 9 and 10, and tie-plates 54, 54 having inward flanges 55, 55 clamped tightly against the rods 50, 50 by means of the bolts 56, 56. This forms a rigid, unyielding connection stronger than the tie-rods themselves and not subject to distortion during operation.

A modified form of tie-rod connection is shown in Fig. 11, where the free ends of rods 50, 50 are threaded and connected by a turnbuckle 57. This is particularly advantageous where it is desired to parallel a truss and put the same under compression, thus relieving the tie-rods of some strain.

The above described structural elements in their assembly form a supporting framework of open character yet rigid against distor- .truss members A3. As the girders rest directly above the posts the weight is transmitted directly without throwing any on the intermediate portions of the truss members 43. 7

I Floor beams 59 rest on the girders 58, :58 and at right angles to the latter. A suitable flooring 60 is laid on the beams. The outer edge of this flooring or deck is guarded by an apron or parapetGl formed of removable sections 62, 62, suitably bolted together and to the deck 60. This allows its installation unusually rigidsince reinforced at thefcenter incompleted sections by manual labor as opposed to the usual mechanical hoisting of the apron as an entirety or its construction directly on the deck 60 or in place.

Beneath the deck, it is necessary -to provide a ceiling for the passageway andpreffireproof. I have shown a ceiling 63 formed of sections of corrugated metal laid with its ends over the frame members 36, 36,. By us- I ing'appropriate widths of the frameinembers' 36, 36 sufficient inclination" will be given the ceiling 63 to shed water over the curb 12. Any suitable lighting fixtures 6401' other facility may be provided in conjunction with the ceiling 63. s

In Fig. 11, there is shown an arrangement by which the rigidity of the structure is assured in directions at right angles to the truss-members 43. The consecutive posts 20,

r 20 are spaced at their tops by trusses 65, the

ends of which rest on the lower members 22 A of the caps and abut against the webs of the posts. Adjustment .of the turn-buckles 57 serve to clamp the trusses 65 and consequently the posts 20 into a firm position at the same time the members 43 connect the opposite posts 20 of the inner and outer rows. Thus the frame is rendered rigid on rectangular lines bot-h longitudinally and laterally of the passageway. I

7 It will be understood that all of the lumber used in this structure will be adequately fireproofed thus minimizing the risk of damaging the adjacent building walls. At the same time by such fireproofing it is possible to assure the maintenance of the sidewalk bridge against collapse or damage in case it is subjected to a fire.

With a bridge assembled as above indicated the minimum of hoisting will be required as the posts, beams, trusses and other fittings are all within the sizes that may be manipulated by ordinary manual labor. Thus, the supporting frame of posts, is

- It will be apparent that while ture' isbrace'd and anchored in both: longitudinal and lateral directions without using" bulky braces or disfiguring" angles. passageway and View are thus rendered clear and sightly. Due to the interchangeable-character of the, parts, thedeck may be maintained level irrespective'of irregularity or slope of the sidewalk merely by the selection: of the'appropriate length of posts. g

The tie-rods 5O withthe' connections 54 are against bending. An easy adjustment for; length follows obviously from this formof connection. Where the brace is used, an

additional reinforcement against compresg 'sion is evident. Y erably thls should be both watertight and 1 The use of the c'ap and bracket as herein developed makes possible the utilization of stock materials and variation in" dimensions of the bridgeit's elf. Also the several-strum tural units are'interconnected by the-single ,cap'brack'et and tied in most rigidly. This results from the improved design .given' -the bracket and its associated parts. V

I'have shown one preferred form which my invention may take, yet many changes in'minor details and proportions maybe made within the scope of the appended claims.

hat I claim is j 1. A sidewalk bridge comprisingparallel .rows'of vertical posts, a cap oneach post,

trusses extending transversely between op-- posite posts of the rows and longitudinal The load-sustaining girders resting onthe trusses 1' above the caps. g

2. .A sidewalk bridge comprising parallel rows of vertical posts, a capon eachpost, trusses extending transversely between opposite posts of the rows, tie-rods connecting adjacent caps of each row andlongitudinal load-sustaining above the caps. r a I v 3., A sidewalk bridge comprising parallel rows of verticalv posts,- a cap on. each post,

girders resting on the trusses trusses extending transversely between opposite posts of the rows, tie-rodsv connecting adjacent caps of each row, compression members spacing-adjacent caps of each row over the tie-rods and longitudinal load-sustaining girders resting on the trusses above the caps. 4. A sidewalk bridge comprising parallel rowsof vertical posts, a cap on each post, trusses extending transversely between 0 posite posts of the rows, compression mem ers' I abutting adjacent caps of each row, tie-rods connecting adjacent caps of each row and means for contracting said tie-rods.

5. A sidewalk bridge comprising parallel rows of vertical posts, a cap on each post, trusses extending transversely between opposite posts of the rows, longitudinal girders resting on the trusses above the caps and a deck supported by said girders.

6. A sidewalk bridge comprising parallel rows of vertical posts, a cap on each post, means extending transversely of the rows for bracing the posts and means extending longitudinally of the rows to sustain a load independently of the transverse bracing means.

7. A sidewalk bridge comprising parallel rows of vertical posts, a cap on each post, trusses extending transversely between opposite posts of the rows, longitudinal girders resting on the trusses above the caps, a deck supported by said girders and a ceiling supported by said caps. V

. 8. A bracket cap for a post comprising a lower sleeve slidable over the post, a'transverse upper load-sustaining platform spaced from said sleeve and resting on the end of the post and a stirrup on one sideof said sleeve.

9. A bracket cap for a post comprising a lower sleeve slidable over the post, a transverse upper load-sustaining platform spaced from said sleeve and resting on the end of the post and lateral apertured extensions on said sleeve.

10. A bracket cap for a post comprising a lower sleeve slidable over the post, a trans verse upper load-sustaining platform resting on the end of the post a U-shaped clamp and a lipped extension on said platform to hold said clamp.

11. A bracket cap for a post comprising a lower sleeve having an H-shaped vertical passageway, a transverse upper platform, divergent side walls connecting the sleeve with the platform and an H-shaped recess in the lower part of the platform opposite the passageway in the sleeve.

12. A bracket cap for a post comprising a lower sleeve slidable over the post, a trans- .verse upper load-sustaining platform resting on the end of the post, side walls connecting the platform with the sleeve in spaced relation and spaced flanges on the sleeve at right angles to the connecting side walls.

In testimony whereof; I afiix my signature.

PATRICK J. CANNON. 

